Factions, Fears, and Fake News at Trinity College Dublin
Monday, November 6, 2017 - Tuesday, November 7, 2017In a world where truth is under siege, freedom of speech has never been more important. But, as outrage and offense in public debate become a commodity for social media technology giants, the future of professional journalism in educating public opinion while challenging authority and power is increasingly under attack. For media outlets, defamation cases and crippling costs are on the rise. By contrast, commentary online and in social media from non-experts is flourishing without the corresponding checks and balances. How do we deal with the 19th century defamation legacy as well as facing the challenges of public debate in the 21st? How do we balance freedom of expression with the need for responsibility and accountability?